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Released: 7/28/2015

DRPA to Host Special Vendor Outreach Event

Office of Business Development and Equal Opportunity to oversee new pilot program reinforcing DRPA’s commitment to vendor diversity

CAMDEN, N.J. (July 23, 2015): On Thursday, August 6, 2015, from 8:30a.m. to Noon, the DRPA’s Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity (OBD&EO), in collaboration with the Authority’s Purchasing Department, will host a special vendor outreach event. The program will take place at DRPA’s Headquarters at One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ, 08101, in the 11th Floor Board Room.

Under the leadership of DRPA Board Chairman Ryan N. Boyer, Vice Chairman Jeffrey L. Nash and Labor Committee Vice Chairman Albert Frattali, on May 20, 2015, the DRPA Board adopted a resolution authorizing the creation of a Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee of the Labor Committee. DRPA Board Chairman Boyer said, “This new subcommittee will oversee and promote the Authority’s diversity and inclusion policies, initiatives and goals.”

DRPA Board Vice Chairman Jeffrey Nash said, “This special event demonstrates the Authority’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion and to equal contracting opportunities for all vendors interested in doing business with the Authority, including Minority/Women/Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (M/W/DBEs).”

At the special August 6, 2015 vendor outreach event, the Authority will announce a new pilot program geared toward vendors who supply janitorial supplies, safety equipment, fasteners and gloves, some of the DRPA and PATCO’s most frequently used items.

Chief Administrative Officer Toni P. Brown, who has responsibility for the Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity said, “This pilot program will provide annual contract opportunities for supplies our employees consistently utilize through a competitively bid process. Vendors will have the opportunity to meet with OBD&EO staff and with DRPA/PATCO Purchasing Specialists and discuss specific commodities and requirements of the annual contracts.”

DRPA CEO and PATCO President John T. Hanson noted, “This event is part of the Authority’s mission and stewardship efforts to bring value to the public we serve.” He added, “Instead of multiple small, less efficient purchases throughout the year of frequently needed items, the DRPA hopes to streamline the process and award larger contracts to area vendors.”

For more information, interested vendors may contact Francis Hagarty at 856-968-2231 or at f_hagarty@drpa.org. All interested vendors are asked to pre-register for the event by completing the event registration form found at www.drpa.org/obdeo. Click on calendar of events.

About DRPA: The Delaware River Port Authority is a regional transportation agency that serves as steward of four bridges that cross the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey: the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross Bridges. Through its Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), the DRPA also operates a transit line between Camden County, New Jersey and Center City Philadelphia. Learn more at www.drpa.org.